Electric water heater



April 15, 1930.

M. E. STALEY ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed March 11, v1927' r l 0 SH01/Muga.

Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILES E. STALEY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON,

WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON PANY, OF TACOMA,

ASSIGNOR TO RED SPOT ELECTRIC COM- nrncrnio WATER HEATER Application led March 11, 1927. Serial No. 174,542.

This invention relates to an electric water heater, one of the objectsbeing to provide a simple and reliable device of this structure which is cheap to manufacture, economica in operation, and can be applied to a storage tank, faucet or the like so that, when the current is directed into they heater, the temperature of the water will be quickly raised.

A further object is to provide a heater of this type so constructed as not to cause electric shocks and the parts of which are readily accessible to permit of repairs or replacement without disturbing any water pipes connected to the heater.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter escribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scopeof what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the heater.

Figure 2 is a segtion on ure 1. Y

Figure 3 is an elevation of heating unit.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a housing formed preferably of aluminum and, in the structure illustrated, provided at one end with an opening 2 for the reception of the threaded end of a pipe 3. A boss 4 is extended radially from the housing adjacent its other end and also has an opening 5 for the reception o the threaded end of a pipe the housing is open as at threaded plug 8 having an enlargement formed with an annular outstanding bead or rib 10. This plug, in turn, is formed with a covering in the form of a cap 11 frictionally engaging the outer surface of the theline 2*-2, Figthe core of the 7 to receive a l 15. A gasket 16 f with a flexible insulating 6. One end ofy opening 12 is provided in the cap and seated in this opening is an insulating plug 18 apertured as at 14 to receive the electric wires preferably of asbestos is interposed between one end of the housing 1 and the adjacent surface of the plug 9 as shown.

Spaced openings 17 are provided within the plug 8 and in each of these openings is seated a sleeve 18 of insulating material, preferably mica. Arranged at the ends of each of these sleeves are washers 19 preferably of mica and a terminal screw 2O is eX- tended through each sleeve and the washers thereon. Each screw islprovided lat one en with nuts 21 for binding one of the wires 15 to the screw.

The two terminal screws 2O are extended through bushings 22, preferably of porcelain, these bushings being spaced from the plug 8 by washers 19 and also spaced, by insulating washers 28 of mica or the like from the base of a porcelain core 24. This flange 25 through which the screws 20 are extended, said screws being provided with nuts 26 which serve not only to tighten the core in position but also to bind to the terminals the ends of the wire of the heating unit.

The core 24 is formed preferably of porcelain and tapered toward its free end, there being opposed notched ribs 27 integral with the core and extending over the free end thereof. A coiled high resistance wire is wrapped spirally about the core 24, oneend thereof being secured to one of the terminal screws 2O while the other end of the coil terminates at the top of the core. From this point the wire is extended to the other terminal screw 20 without being coiled, this uncoiled portion of the wire being provided covering formed preferably of porcelain beads as shown at 28. The coiled portion of the wire has been 9 shown at 29.

In practice the heater is connected to pipes 8 and 6 which can be in communication with tank. The insulating beads 28 prevent the uncoiled portion of the wire from coming into contact with the coiled pordes tion thereof. The space surrounding the core 24 constitutes a Water compartment 30 and as the Water contacts directly with the heating element consisting of the coil 29, the temperature of the Water will be quickly raised. The high resistance Wire Will not corrode and as it is coiled about the core 24 and Within the notches in the ribs 27, it vvill be held rigidly. Furthermore as it is surrounded by water the said Wire Will be maintained at a 10W temperature and its life Will be greatly prolonged.

By removing the cap 1l with the plug 8 all parts become accessible quickly so that repairs or replacements can be made Without disturbing any of the pipes. By spacing the core 24 from the plug 8 by means ofl the bushings or spacing devices 22, it becomes impossible for sediment to collect around the base of the core. Instead the Water Will be free to circulate under as Well as around the core and thus prevent the formation of sediment at the base of the core.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric Water heater including a housing providing a Water compartment having an inlet and an outlet, a tapered insulating core supported Within and spaced from the housing, a coiled Wire heating element extending spirally around the core, terminals at the base of the core, one end 'of the heating element being connected to one bf the terminals, an uncoiled Wire extending from the other end of the heating element to the other terminal, and flexible insulating means on the uncoiled wire.

2. An electric Water heater including a housing providing a Water compartment having a side bottom inlet and an axial top outlet, a tapered ungrooved insulating core supported Within and spaced from the housing, a coiled Wire heating element extending spirally around the core, terminals at the base of the core, one end of the heating element being connected to one of the terminals, an uncoiled Wire extending from thev other end of the heating element to the other terminal, flexible insulating means on the uncoiled Wire, and means on the core for holding the convolutions of the spiral heating element properly spaced.

3. An electric Water heater including a housing providing a Water compartment having a s1de bottom inlet and an axial top outet, a plug removably mounted Within one end of the housing, an insulating core mounted on but spaced from the plug and supported Within and out of contact With the housing, terminals extending through the plug and core and constituting means for holding them in fixed relation to each other, a coiled electric heating element extending spirally around the core and connected at one end to one of the terminals, an uncoiled connection between the other end of said element and the other terminal, and an insulating covering upon the uncoiled Wire.

4. An electric Water heater including a housing providing a Water compartment having an inlet and an outlet, a plug removably mounted Within one end of' the housing, an ungroo'ved insulating core mounted on but spaced from the plug and supported Within and out of contact With the housing, terminals extending through the plug and core and constituting means for holding them fixed relative to each other, a coiled electric heating element extending spirally around the core and connectedat one end to one of' the terminals, an uncoiled connection between the other end of said element and the other terminal, an insulating covering upon the uncoiled Wire, and projections extending from the core for holding the convolutions of the coiled heating element properly spaced along the core.

5. An electric Water heater including an aluminum housing providing a Water compartment having an inlet and an outlet, a plug, an ungrooved tapered, flanged core of insulating material supported by but spaced from the plug, terminals engaging said core and the plug for holding them fixed relative to each other, said core and plug being insertible into the housing to close onev end of the housing and support the core Within and spaced from said housing, a coiled Wire eX- tending spirally around the -core and constituting a heating element, one end of said coiled Wire being connected to one of the terminals, a Wire connecting the other end of the coiled Wire to the other terminal, said connecting Wire being insulated, and means on the core for holding the convolutions of the spirally arranged heating element properly spaced along the c ore.

6. In a circulation type, direct contact electric Water heater, the combination of a housing adapted to be supported by connecting piping and a removab e heating element member comprising a base, a flanged core of insulating material, a coiled heating element` Wound spirally about said core, posts spacing the flanged end of said core from the face of said base, and insulated terminal means pass- 'ing through spaced registering holes in said base, said posts and saidl flange, serving to assemble the same firmly together as a unit, the terminals of said heating element being connected to the inner ends of' said terminal means.

7. In a direct contact lelectric Water heater having base type terminals, means for -preventing the grounding and short circuiting of the heating element and terminals, comprising means for spacing said heating elements above the base, and means for insulating the interior length of said terminals for a distance corresponding substantially to the I space distance between said heating element and said base.

,8. In a direct contact, electric water heater, a fixed housing having a side inlet and an axial top outlet, said Ioutlets being adapted for connection to a systemof piping whereby the heater is supported a removable base closing the lower end of said housing; means for insulating a pair of terminals passing through spaced apertures in said 'base whereby said apertures are made water-tight; a flanged core of insulating material supported by inner projections of said termina s assing through spaced holes in the ange o .said core; a coiled heating element wound spirally on said core with ends connecting to said terminals; and spacers for insulating said terminals and spacin said core from said base to prevent the s ort circuiting of the terminals or heating element by the accumu-V lation of sediment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature. l MILES E. STALEY. 

